do most Islamic people actually read the Qur'an, or is it like Christians and they depend on a teacher??

Question

I hear words like Tiqiyya and kitman (holy hypocracy) and I wonder how do these teachings that contradict Holy Scripture get wide acceptance if Muslems actually read their scriptures??

I know there is a lot of accepted scripture twisting in Christianity which is the result of very few studying to show themselves approved but it is this also true for Muslems ??

Answer 1

Generally speaking, most if not all Muslims can read the Arabic text of the holy Quran and most of us do read the holy scripture quite regularly; some read it after every daily prayers; some read it once everyday; some read once in a few days; some read it once every week; and so forth.

The doctrine of "taqiyya" is taught and practised by the Shia Muslims only. Mainstream Muslims, i.e. the Sunnis, do not practise such doctrine. God knows best why it is taught by the sect of Shia Islam.

I dont know about the Christian scriptures, but I do know a little bit about my own - the holy Quran.

There is a reason why interpretation of the holy Quran and the Prophet's Sunnah (prophetic traditions) is an affair dearer to the hearts of Muslims than anything else, but an affair feared by many. It is dearer because Muslims find joy, peace and comfort in both reciting and gaining as much knowledge and understanding of the holy Quran as possible.

Nonetheless, it is feared as without proper understanding of the science of interpretation (exegesis), one can be easily led astray, hence many and I mean many schools of thoughts condemned as heresy by prominent leading scholars since the early ages of Islam. Even these prominent scholars of Islam have taken great precautions and expressed their concern in the affairs of the Sacred Law (holy Quran and Sunnah), keeping in mind how overwhelming the task could be, as told in their biographies. This is reasonable enough as the holy Quran is first and foremost the words of God, the only thing in the world which is close to being divine.

Having said that, it is of utmost importance to realise that as people possess different capacity, interpreting the holy Quran is not a task for everyone. Therefore, for an incapable person to quote the holy Quran literally and use it to justify the killing of innocents in the name of God is totally unislamic, utterly blasphemous, and a sin so grave that it would strike terror in the hearts of rational Muslims everywhere, hence the vast condemnation and alienation of terrorist groups with the likes of al-Qaeda by the Muslim World for instance. Enough to say, the affairs of Quranic exegesis is a virtue so virtuous that those who are blessed with the capability to do so (one of them being the famous classical thinker, Imam Ibnu Kathir with his masterpiece - Tafseer Ibn Kathir - Exegesis of Ibn Kathir - widely read by Muslims worldwide) would earn saintly respect from ordinary Muslims while the misundertaking of such venture by the incapable would cause them terrible loss, humiliation and chastisement.

I'm only 19 years old, thus, I can't elaborate extensively on this matter due to my lack of knowledge. Kindly refer to the reliable links given below for more information.

Is the Quran Clear or Incomprehensible?
You can find the answer here:
http://www.understanding-islam.com/related/text.asp?type=article&aid=56&sscatid=89

Differentiating between 'Literal' Meaning and Meaning as a 'Term'
You can find the answer here:
http://www.understanding-islam.com/related/text.asp?type=question&qid=1782&sscatid=119

How to Determine the context of Verses and Ahadith?
You can find the answer here:
http://www.understanding-islam.com/related/text.asp?type=question&qid=1921&sscatid=168

And finally, I would like to urge you to focus your utmost attention on the following verse (translation) of the holy Quran:

003.007: "He it is Who has sent down to thee the Book: In it are verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning); they are the foundation of the Book: others are allegorical. But those in whose hearts is perversity follow the part thereof that is allegorical, seeking discord, and searching for its hidden meanings, but no one knows its hidden meanings except God. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: "We believe in the Book; the whole of it is from our Lord:" and none will grasp the Message except men of understanding."

Carefully reread it for a few times. I'm sure in the end you'll be able to fathom why there are different interpretations - sometimes with not much difference while sometimes with marked difference.

Visit www.tafsir.com for an authoritative exegesis (interpretation) of the holy Quran, based on the works of one of Sunni Islam's most respected scholar - Imam Ibnu Kathir (may God be pleased with him)

And God alone knows best.

Peace and Love.

Answer 2

More muslims read the Qur'an daily than Christians read the Bible. The reason is that in the 5 required prayer each day that a muslim prays, they recite varioud verses or chapters of the Qur'an in their prayer.

I personally feel that Muslims have a higher reverance for their holy book than Christians do too. A Muslim won't touch the Qur'an if they are in an unclean state, wouldn't allow it to be in a bathroom or slaughterhouse, wouldn't let it sit on the ground. I've had Christian friends walk in, toss their Bible on the ground, then sit down and talk about Christianity.

Answer 3

Muslims read the Qura’an more than christians read the Bible, coz muslims recite Qura’an in the five prayers,and coz we believe that when you recite Qura’an you get rewards in the after life on every letter you recite.
Also reciting the Qura’an in Islam does not mean just to read it with your eyes or reading it with a heard voice,you have to understand every word you recite,and not only this,as soon as you knew something that Allah ordered you with you have to do it, coz you now know and understand it and not anymore ignorant of it..that is why,when someone newly convert to Islam,in front of God,they are not responsible for their deeds before Islam...and that is very fair coz Allah will not judge them for they did not know,or did out of ignorance....

Answer 4

As a Muslim who lives in a none-arab Muslim country, People read quoran, but it depends on the person, some religious read it everyday, and some do not read it even in their life-time (except religious class in school).
But the point is that they only read it, they read arabic words and they even can't understand what does it mean!!! they believe that the translation will not benifit them in afterlife! I've seen lots of people who even do not understand what is the meaning of daily prayers. they just used to read quoran and pray! in fact it's like a habit for them.
sorry for my english

Answer 5

Christians do not depend on a teacher, a true Christian will also read on their own and seek God to give them clarity on what His Word is saying to them. I don't understand how you can make such a claim.

Answer 6

we read the Quran and try to memorize it, millions of Muslims all over the world memorize the entire Quran from cover to cover.

and there's no such thing as Lying in my Islam. i dont know where you got that from but it's not a mainstream Islamic concept.

the concept of Taqiyyah *spelling?* is in the Shiite sect and i have no clue where they came up with that.

Lying is a sin as far as i know.

Answer 7

Yes children are taught to memorize the Qur'an and it is a duty amoung all Muslims to memorize the Qur'an and read it.

Answer 8

In Muslim countries like Iran, students have 2 hours religion class every week(from the 2nd grade), it even continues till university.

but some Muslims study on their own too and some just don't. like Christians and Jews.

Answer 9

They are supposed to read it ...and they read parts of it in the prayers 5 times a day....they may depend on a teacher to explain what it means and there are many studies concerned with Qura'an in language ,science,religion, laws and many many Fields ...but they are ordered to read Qura'an and do what it says (and Reading it is a way to worship God) ....:) ....

Answer 10

Muslims (and Islam) say Jesus was a prophet but they reject all His teachings ....that is hypocrisy.

They reject Christ's divinity;
they reject his claim to be the Son of God;
they reject his death on the cross...
they reject His ressurrection..
They reject Jesus is the Christ/ Messiah...
Need I say more...?

Don't be deceived. The Islamic god is totally different than the God of Jesus Christ.

The Bible calls Muhammed and those like him false prophets:
"Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is anti-Christ, that denies the Father and the Son. He that denies the Son, the same has not the Father." (I John 2:22)